The New Erskine Stewart Melville PE Kit

Developed through extensive collaboration across our community, our new PE kit reflects the collective input of students, parents, staff and former pupils, resulting in a design that is both modern and meaningful.

In designing a new kit, we were able to consider the needs of all students, especially our Junior School children, and create a kit that meets their needs as well as those of our Senior School students.

We are certainly no strangers to a change in colour when it comes to our PE and sports tops. The black SMC PE tops and navy MES PE tops only date back to 2015. Before then, while navy blue, red, black and gold featured in our team strips, many FPs will remember wearing white V-neck polo shirts for PE and athletics, introduced in 2005, replacing the plain white round-neck T-shirts without a badge. Looking even further back, it was after the merger of Daniel Stewart’s and Melville College in 1973 that the iconic ‘Melville Red’ we know and love today was first adopted as the primary colour for the boys’ Rugby and Hockey tops. Visually, the new PE kit reflects a more modern and cohesive look, while still honouring our history.

Key Improvements to the New Design

At the heart of the new PE kit is a focus on comfort, practicality and performance. Every element has been carefully considered to ensure it supports students across all stages of their School journey.

• One of the most significant improvements is the introduction of a single PE kit for all students from P1 to S6. This removes the need to change kit as children progress through the school, offering consistency, simplicity and better value for our families.
• All the new kit uses quick-drying, high-performance fabrics that are much better suited to physical activity.
• With this in mind, the new sports mid-layer will dry much quicker, and the new design with a zip will allow students to put them on and take them off much more easily.
• We have taken a deliberately inclusive approach to design. The focus is on fit rather than gender, allowing all students to choose items that suit them best.
• Students will also have greater choice than ever before. There are multiple options for shorts and trousers, giving families flexibility without adding unnecessary requirements. For example, students can opt for double-layer PE shorts for added comfort and confidence.

Tracksuit bottoms now feature extended zips up to the knee, making them much easier to put on and remove without taking off trainers – a small but significant change, particularly for younger children.

We have reduced the total number of items required. For example, for Junior School Games, students can wear their standard PE top or their Rugby top, simplifying expectations and making the kit more versatile across different activities.

What’s Required and When

To give as much flexibility as possible to families, we are phasing in the new Erskine Stewart Melville PE kit. Most items, apart from the new branded top, will be available to buy for August 2026. Students can continue wearing the current SMC and MES PE kit or opt for items as they need them from the new Erskine Stewart Melville kit.

Uniform Guidelines

Click here to see our full Uniform Guidelines for 2026-27, these detail exactly what is needed for August across both the day wear uniform and PE kit.